Navigating the Scholarship in Practice (SIP) Requirement at Florida State University

Florida State University (FSU) has implemented the CoreFSU curriculum, consisting of General Education Requirements and University-Wide Graduation Requirements, to provide a well-rounded educational foundation for its students. Among these requirements, the Scholarship in Practice (SIP) stands out as a unique opportunity for students to apply their academic knowledge in practical, real-world settings. This article aims to demystify the SIP requirement, explore its various pathways, and offer guidance on how to successfully fulfill it.

Understanding CoreFSU and Graduation Requirements

Before diving into the specifics of the SIP requirement, it's essential to understand the broader context of CoreFSU and graduation requirements at FSU. Students pursuing a bachelor's degree must meet numerous state and University-wide requirements, including completing the CoreFSU curriculum with a minimum overall adjusted grade point average of 2.0. The CoreFSU curriculum is divided into two segments: General Education and University-Wide Graduation Requirements, encompassing all state mandates.

The State of Florida mandates minimum communication and computation skills for all students in Florida public institutions of higher education. The Statewide General Education Core and the University-wide requirements are designed to meet these requirements. Students will satisfy the requirements of this rule by completing, with a grade of “C-” or higher in each course, the General Education requirements in Quantitative and Logical Thinking, English Composition, and two other approved courses that require college-level writing for a total of six additional writing credits. The six additional writing credits may be fulfilled through successful completion of approved “W” (State-Mandated Writing) or E-Series courses.

General Education Requirements

General Education requirements at FSU encompass several areas, including:

Quantitative and Logical Thinking: Students must complete six semester hours in this area, with at least three from the Statewide Core list and at least three hours in the Department of Mathematics.
English Composition: Students must complete six semester hours, including ENC 1101 (from the Statewide Core list) and ENC 2135 Research, Genre, and Context (or an approved 2000-level composition course with an ENC prefix).
Social Sciences/History: Students must complete at least six semester hours in the combined area, with three from the Statewide Core list, including at least one Social Sciences course and one History course.
Humanities and Cultural Practice/Ethics: Students must complete at least six semester hours in the combined area, with at least three from the Statewide Core list, including at least one Humanities and Cultural Practice course and one Ethics course.

University-Wide Graduation Requirements

In addition to General Education requirements, students must also fulfill University-Wide Graduation Requirements, which include:

Scholarly and Formative Experiences: Students must complete one Scholarship in Practice course and one approved Formative Experience prior to the awarding of a bachelor's degree. Exceptions exist for students with an AA degree from an articulated institution or transfer students with sixty or more credit hours, who only need to complete one SIP course or one approved Formative Experience. A second Scholarship in Practice course may substitute for the Formative Experience.
Diversity Requirement: Students must complete two Diversity courses with a grade of "C-" or higher.
Oral Communication Competency Requirement: Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Oral Communication Competency Requirement with a grade of "C-" or higher.
Digital Literacy Requirement: Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of "C-" or higher.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement: Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Upper-Division Writing Requirement with a grade of "C-" or higher.

Demystifying the Scholarship in Practice (SIP) Requirement

The Scholarship in Practice (SIP) requirement at FSU aims to provide students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences that complement their academic studies. It requires students to apply relevant areas of scholarship to produce an original project. Essentially, SIP courses bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing students to engage in active learning and develop valuable skills that are transferable to various professional settings.

FSU requires students to take two SIP courses before graduation, Scholarship in Practice and Formative Experience.

Pathways to Fulfilling the SIP Requirement

There are several avenues through which students can fulfill the SIP requirement, offering flexibility and catering to diverse academic and career interests.

High-Level Major Courses

For most students, taking a high-level class within their major is the easiest way to fulfill their SIP requirement. Many degree programs at FSU already include a required capstone, research course, or practicum that is SIP-designated. These courses often require students to apply the knowledge and skills they've acquired throughout their major to solve real-world problems or conduct independent research.

For example, if you’re a business major, you’ll likely take Business Case Analysis (IDS 3121) your senior year. This course requires you to apply everything you’ve learned in your business classes to real-world case studies and projects, making it a perfect fit for SIP. If your major has a high-level research project or practical course, there’s a good chance it already counts as SIP.

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Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS), Leadership (LDR), and Religion (REL) Courses

For students who want more flexibility or want to satisfy the requirement, FSU offers many options in all disciplines, including Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS), Leadership (LDR), and Religion (REL) courses. These courses provide opportunities to explore diverse topics and apply interdisciplinary approaches to real-world challenges.

A great example is IDS 2678: Art and Environment, which I took online during my first year and explores the intersection of art and sustainability. It was a super fun class that allowed me to be innovative and create digital art projects with a large final paper at the end of the semester. Some other options include LDR 2160: Peer Leadership, LDS 3168: Walt Disney’s America, and DAN 2100: Dance Appreciation.

Internship Courses

If you like to get out of the classroom and into the real world, an internship course might be the perfect way to fulfill your SIP requirement through formative experience. Internship courses provide valuable hands-on experience in a professional setting, allowing students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world tasks and projects.

For example, as a marketing major, you could enroll in MAR 4941: Marketing Internship and gain the credit while working in a real marketing firm.

Experience Recognition Program

Not every internship will automatically count. If your internship experience doesn’t qualify for an internship class, it could qualify for the experience recognition program. The Experience Recognition program is a way to get a formative experience credit from a personal project, internship, leadership role, service commitment, and more. You can apply for this program before the seventh week of the semester to get credit for your fantastic involvement on campus.

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Strategic Planning for SIP Completion

The key to successfully fulfilling the SIP requirement is planning and choosing the path that best fits your academic and career goals. Students should consult with their academic advisors to identify SIP-designated courses within their major or explore alternative options that align with their interests and aspirations. It's also crucial to consider the timing of SIP completion and avoid waiting until the last semester to address this requirement.

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